Aurora teen charged with obstructing cop during gun investigation at Waubonsee Community College

March 04, 2009

AURORA — An Aurora teenager was charged with obstructing a police officer Thursday after he was arrested during an investigation of a loaded handgun found in a men's room at Waubonsee Community College, police said.

A college employee found the gun inside a garbage can. Campus police secured the weapon. A short time later, a subject fitting the description of Arthur Mendoza, 17, of the 1000 block of North Pleasure Court was seen entering the men's room, picking up the garbage can, then leaving, authorities said.

Campus police later saw Mendoza, but he denied being in the restroom, police said.

They instructed him to stay where he was while they searched for other suspects, but Mendoza ran from the building, police said. A police officer and a cadet chased him through the downtown area, authorities said. Several residents grabbed onto him near Benton Street and Broadway and held him for police, officials said.

Police planned to process the gun for evidence and study security video to try to find who placed it in the garbage can, officials said.